Closet Organization
Today, I put my favorite radio station on
(Latin hits FTW)
and tackled one of my favorite rooms in the new casa: the closet.
(It’s also on my 10 Ways to Make August Awesome list) 😀
It was a little bit of a challenge because I had to sort through a hefty amount of clothes, many of which I haven’t seen in a year.
I think I made it work 🙂
My half of the closet (so far):
Of course, I’m not a closet organization expert by any means, but here’s how I’ve always done it.
1) Separate clothes into “types”: storage (August is a great time to store the super summery stuff until next spring), dresses, shirts, athletic, etc.
2) Make a “donate” pile
and a “sell” pile for consignment stuff.
3) Find a good spot for the storage stuff you want to keep but may not need for a while, and figure out where everything is going to go. Here’s my set-up:
Athletic
aka the wall of Zumba and lululemon 😉
Thin strap tops –> tanks –> short sleeve —> long sleeve —> jackets —> pants
Cold weather
(I don’t go too crazy on the winter clothes since it doesn’t get too cold here, and for jeans, I have 5 pairs: a boyfriend cropped, skinny cropped, two skinny pairs and a bootleg pair)
Everything else
tanks —> tees —> button-ups —> dresses —> maxis —> blazers
I also have 6 of these stackable plastic containers where I store the folded stuff, like shorts, swimsuits, unmentionables (seksi in one drawer, athletic in another), pajamas and socks.
4) Organize by sleeve length and color. It only takes an extra second and makes everything so much easier to find!
I do the ROY G BIV thang and tanks to long sleeves.
5) Purses are up top, hamper is on the floor, but I have a couple of things I have no idea what to do with.
Shoes:
There’s a nice built-in shelf, but when I try to organize the shoes in there, they look weird.
Any ideas??
Also: jewelry. I’ve never really organized my jewelry, and it always ends up in a tangled mess (which makes the Pilot cringe). Should I roll with a jewelry box, or is there something else I can do with it?
Ideally, I’d like to build an island in the middle of the closet, so I can store my jewelry on top and have drawers for the Pilot’s ties and nix the plastic containers. In the meantime, let me know if you have any ideas! (feel free to link away to awesome storage/organization products too)
Do you go through your closet on a regular basis? 🙂 What’s your absolute, 100% favorite thing in your closet?
Mine is the Badgley Mischka dress that my aunt saved the day with for the LA Gatorate launch party:
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SO jealous of that huge closet space!
I love your closet I really need to organize mine!!
You could look at a jewelry tree if things are always getting tangled. I wish I had a walk-in closet! I live in a really old house with tiny closets, so it’s always interesting trying to get everything to fit.
My suggestion for the jewellry considering you have a walk-in closet is making hooks on one wall (decorative knobs or other cool hooks) and hang your necklaces on them. I am not sure about the other small jewellry though….hahaha.
I wish I could hang everything, but my closet space hasn’t changed since I was 12. I also probably need to get rid of some (more) clothes.
Ooph! My closet is in DIRE need of organization. Love your Badgley… my closet baby is a beautiful purple Betsey Johnson that I’m waiting to bust out for a wedding or two!
I have a coat rack that I nailed to the wall and use(d) the hooks to store all my costume necklaces and bracelets. I have a couple fine pieces of jewelry that I always keep in the original box and put in one of my dresser drawers.
Like this idea!!! http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/rotating-jewels/
cuuuuute!
CUUUUUUUUTE weekender bag and brown pumps! LOVE. For my shoes, they’re just stacked on shelves like that, only on the floor. I’m not sure how to not make them look weird…. maybe group by type or color like your other ROYGBIV’s?
It looks like you’ve made a lot of progress! I also arrange by style and color. It really helps to keeps things organized.
Jewelry…I have a key rack hanging on wall that I just hang the necklaces on. It’s a great space saver.
I go through my closet anytime I buy something new. If I buy something I have to throw/give something away. It helps keep my closet under control! My favorite thing in my closet is a French Connection “Dallas Delight” Dress. SO fun and sparkly!
We have built-in shelves in our closet for shoes. So that makes me happy.
I go through my closet pretty much every season. I haven’t in a little bit because I haven’t bought any new clothes. I’m in desperate need but I’m saving!
Maybe try some cute baskets that tuck into the shelving for your shoes! That way you can separate athletic dressy flats etc. At it looks nice and clean 🙂
i love that idea!
I have an over the door shoe organizer that is AMAZING. It holds around 50 pairs 🙂 I love it! You could try one of those.
re: your jewelry sitch: I spray painted a bulletin board white and store all of my necklaces and bracelets on it with clear pushpins – it’s a work of art and it doesn’t take up any floor space. I also have a small spinny earring holder that looks like a birdcage from Urban Outfitters
LOVE the closet! I always try to organize mine according to type and color but then I mess it up 🙂 I also used those plastic containers for clothes that don’t need to be hung up.
For jewelry – here is what I made recently – http://www.arunningtale.com/2011/07/diy-jewelry-holder.html – so far I love it. I even bought larger shadow box frames to hold more!
Ok I think having an island in the middle is a good idea if you can make it work.
Could you get shoe box things from Ikea (or start keeping the shoe boxes) to store shoes in? I know what you mean about them looking goofy just sitting on a shelf, plus if you can stack them they’d make more use of the space.
My jewelry is all tangled up so I have no suggestions there.
Great post, Gina! I saw your call-out for it on Twitter and forgot to respond but I was a definite YES. 😉 Closet storage makes me weirdly happy. Your organization is great. As for the shoes, I just stack mine wherever they go and they pretty much always look weird/out of place at first. I haven’t been able to come up with anything better–they look weird the first day I put them somewhere new, then they end up being fine. 😉
I’ve always stuggled with how to keep jewelry, but then I found a super cute “jewelry tree” at Marshalls. It’s very shabby-chic and cute, and it rotates! It holds my necklaces/bracelets, and has a cup in the middle for earrings/rings. Works for me!
I always organize my closet based on ROY G BIV. Makes it so much easier to find everything!
I found this on Pinterest and think it’s a great idea. I’ll eventually get around to implementing it. Also, I saw someone who organized smaller jewelry pieces like earrings and rings in ice cube trays.
http://www.maillardvillemanor.com/2011/07/cutlery-tray-for-jewelry.html
(Personally, I think I’ll be heading back to this site, because there are a ton of great organizational tips!)
that is so pretty- love it!
This is and amazing idea!! Thanks! My friend has a ginormous closet and she hangs knobs all over her closet to hang her jewelry. Looks nice and organized. Her husband has this tie thingy thing that hangs on the closet rod. She got it here… http://www.organize.com/closet-accessories-ties.html
I LOVE this idea! I am definitely going to do this to organize my jewelry 🙂
Your closet organization system reminds me of mine. For shoes, I suggest this over-the-door shoe rack:
http://www.amazon.com/Whitmor-Over-Door-White-36-Pair/dp/B0019FOUQ0/ref=dp_cp_ob_hg_title_0
There is a freestanding version as well.
I really need to go through my closet more often that I do. There have been items that I’ve held onto for 3 years now saying “maybe I’ll wear it this year”. Yeah, those need to go!
I use an expandable shoe rack that sits on the floor of my closet. If you have floor space in the closet, I recommend it. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16191167 For jewelry, I totally bought one of those GemGini organizers–I saw the infomercial on tv! I like it b/c nothing gets tangled.
My favorite piece of clothing is this little jacket I have from Anthro. It is my absolute favorite thing to wear!
What an awesome set up you have…and ginormous closet space haha. I will take your donate pile because I’m sure it probably trumps what I have!!!
Good timing on the post! I am moving in 2 weeks, so I will have a great opportunity to reorganize my closet. For shoes I LOVE the over the door pocket holder things (Yeah, that’s their official name right?) http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10012681&N=&Nao=20&Ntt=shoe+storage We have one behind the door in our closet by the front door. It’s super convenient but we really only store the shoes we wear most often there the rest are on a rack. (PS when I grabbed the link it looks like the container store is having a sale! holler.)
For jewlery I do two things. One is a cute little bowl for storing our wedding rings when they aren’t on, another for nondangling earrings. THen I have a jewlery tree for necklaces and other earings. One thing I like is they they are nice enough to put on the dresser or something, so that way you see them when you’re getting ready and actually remember to put them on… something I forget more than I should.. haha.
For jewelry, I currently have a jewelry box for everything but necklaces. I have one of those wire necklace hangers on my dresser so they don’t get tangled. Not sure about the shoes, I currently just have a bunch of shoe racks!!
I love the organization. I’m college student who has a big walk-in closet at home, but I make good use of my space in my apartment. I totally organize by color, style, etc. like you. The only thing that’s driving me crazy right now is the fact that my mom makes me store all my college stuff (bedding, kitchen stuff, tv, etc.) in my closet. It is overflowing and a mess, but I only have a month until I move back to school so I’m just dealing with it.
I framed window screen in a rad vintage frame and hang all my earings on it and use clear tacks across the bottom for necklaces. I have a bracelet tree with a ring dish sitting on my dresser. It works out really well!
I have a necklace holder that looks like a dress form on my dresser. Super cute and was a gift. I can’t find a similar one online, but these are another fun option: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ClaudinesLimited?ref=seller_info
I have one of these for my earrings: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MLH3XE
They fun and stylish and a great way to display everything while keeping it organized.
I keep saying I’m going to make picture frame jewelry holders, but have yet to do it. I figure your jewelry is pretty, so why not display it? Here’s a few examples of what I mean:
http://www.redblondeandburlap.com/2011/04/ugly-picture-frame-turned-jewlery.html
http://www.julieannart.com/2011/04/jewelry-holder-tutorial.html
Living in NYC, I’m super jealous of that closet space! haha
Love this post.. I’m moving in a couple of weeks, and this is exactly what I need to do w my cluttered closet!
Great tips! I go through my closet roughly twice a year (usually during summer and winter) to eradicate clothes I don’t wear anymore. This also makes for a good reason to plunk some cash down on some new threads, too!
As for your shoes organization: Perhaps you could try a few low shoe racks (like this: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=16586676) under your tanks – blazers row of clothing. You’d have to move that gorgeous LV duffel, though. Or maybe an over-the-door or under-the-bed organizer?
I organize my closet the EXACT SAME way. How weird!
I like those hanging shoe organizers for my closet. Ikea also has some great storage options!
Your closet looks great! For my necklaces I bought a shelf and painted it white, then I put hooks on the bottom, and I hang my necklaces based on color. It looks really cute and adds color. I keep mine in my bathroom and have a few pictures/decorations on the shelf. I will email you a picture tonight if I think of it 🙂
I keep all my casual shoes (flip flops/sandals) in those foldable bins on the floor; and everything else is on those stacking shelves (I found them in the kitchen section at Bed Bath & Beyond). Maybe you could stick one in the back of the built ins so you can see those and have room underneath and in front for other shoes you use more regularly.
I hang all my necklaces on cute jacket hooks and then for rings and earrings I store them in a drawer in ice cube trays!
My closet is organized the same way! Except I live in Colorado so there are a lot more “cold weather” clothes!! My husband laughs at my color coordination!
I use the thin cork board sheets and attach them to my closet with the double sided tack from 3M (the kind that removes nicely). Then I use regular old push pins and space them out every so often along the cork. I hang my necklaces and bracelets from them. It keeps them from getting tangled and makes everything easy to find. I organize based on my favorites. Some of my lesser worn necklaces are hung two or three on a push pin. For my earrings, I actually use the ring drawer in my jewelery box. I think it holds the stud types quite nicely and allows me to see everything at once. The dangley ones I just throw in a drawer together. The jewelery box is a small one my Aunt got me when I was around 12 and my jewelery outgrew long ago. I love that I was able to re-purpose it and organize my jewelery on the cheap.
The cork board is what my mom did in her closet (I steal her stuff all the time so I often forget!). In my closet we used the tiny 3M hooks (http://www.command.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NACommand/Command/Products/Product-Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U523080QE0IIHEICN90GC1_nid=DFGQFV1QPDgsC4Z924C3ZHglLGVT18KGT9bl) and attached them along the shelf wall and hung the necklaces from there!
I use a candelier to put all my jewellery on, It looks super pretty too!
I hang my jewelry, especially my long necklaces. You can also get a hanging jewelry wall that looks like a shirt but you hang it. Kinda clever. As for shoes, yikes! I am constantly re-organizing my shoes. My bf built me a shelf a the bottom of my closet that seems to work well. Looks like you have lots of room. I have never hung my athletic clothes but I pay more for them sometimes then my other clothes so I might as well.
I personally like this idea…it can be self-made and also makes for a pretty wall accessory…:
http://www.quickandsimple.com/how-to/organize-clean/jewelry-craft-storage (#2: The Hang of it)…
I tried it myself and it turned out great, maybe a little too messy due to the amount of necklaces I own…:-)
What great ideas!! I have a big closet with all kinds of fancy organizing stuff in it, but not enough poles for hanging stuff, super jealous! I am hoping when I FINALLY lose this weight, I will have to organize clothes, right now I have 3 pair of pants and like 5 tops that fit.!
My sister has both of these, not exact, but similar.
she has a TON of jewlery!
http://www.amazon.com/Powell-Jewelry-Wardrobe-Full-Length-Antique/dp/accessories/B001TH7G0A
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Silver-Finish-Jewelry-Armoire-Mirror/4118750/product.html?cid=202290&kw={keyword}&adtype=pla
Pintrest is a great website for organization. Just type it in and it will show you pictures of great ideas! Especially for jewlery. Glad to see I’m not the only one will a closet full of mostly workout wear! 🙂
I stole this idea from my friend for organizing my necklaces – take a cork bulletin board, hang on wall, buy some pretty pushpins, arrange in lines or however you want according to necklace length on the board and voila! instant necklace organizer with no tangles! everything lies in nice straight lines. i always found that my necklaces would “pool” at the bottom of my jewelry box (mine had one of those revolving necklace holders.)
Target sells small clear tupperware type storage containers that fits a pair of shoes perfectly. I have those stacked on my awkward shelf so I can see all my shoes and also stack a few on top of each other. Doesn’t work for boots but great for everything else.
Also, you need a big jewelry armoire like I have. I fit all of my jewelry in it and it’s super organized and it makes me so happy. I put all of my fun chunky necklaces into snack size ziploc bags and have them lined up in one drawer. Everything has its place and I can always find stuff so fast. Mine was from Pier 1 but they don’t have anything similar right now. Emailing you a pic now!
LOVE the closet and I’m so jealous of the size.
Oh my god. That is a beauuuuutiful closet!!!! I WANT
Wow, your closet is a dream! It kind of reminds me of Carrie’s from the Sex & the City movie
I once had shelves like that for my shoes and I ended up buying some collapsable shoe shelves from container store so that each shelf was doubled. It worked well for the space and I wore stuff more often because I could see what I owned displayed all at once.
I organize my closet pretty much the same way! My hubby laughs at the ROY G BIV of my side. LOL.